5 Leadership Blessings in Disguise
Back in 1957, two engineers invented a textured wallpaper they were sure would become a big hit. Instead, it flopped. After some modest success repurposing it as an insulation for greenhouses, their failures became blessings in disguise, forever altering the history of packing and shipping worldwide, while de-stressing millions. That’s because that failed wallpaper became […]
4 Ways to Heal Emotional Wounds
We’ve all had emotional wounds in our lives, haven’t we? Sometimes, they’re self-inflicted, when we do something we later regret or make a decision that doesn’t end how we hoped it would. Other times, it’s others who inflict emotional wounds on us. No matter how it’s happened, we’ve all been hurt. And there’s something important […]
7 Bad Ways to Face a Fight With Your Spouse
I was trying to resolve a fight with my wife, Susan, and it was obvious from her response that I’d said the wrong thing. Fortunately, we have a rule while fighting—if we say the wrong thing, we can call a do over. Whenever either one of us calls a do over, we get to rephrase […]
Are You a Unicycle, Bicycle, or Tricycle Leader?
Are you a do-it-all kind of leader, or do you prefer to delegate? Understanding how we relate to the people around us reveals our leader styles. It shows the kind of leaders we can and need to be to succeed. Just like a single-, double-, or triple-wheeled mode of transportation—a unicycle, bicycle, or tricycle—the more […]
12 Things the People You Lead Need From You
Studying leadership for years, I’ve learned that true leaders don’t always require titles, authority, or a specific style or personality to be effective. I believe great leadership is primarily the ability to influence others to be their best and achieve something important, one of many important leadership skills. Yet even great leaders can focus too […]
9 Simple but Meaningful Ways to Show Your Spouse Love
Too many days throughout our marriage, I’ve given my best to others in my work, leaving my leftovers for my wife, Susan—as if everyone else is prime rib and she’s chopped liver. I’m learning to be more aware and intentional to remind her every single day that I love her, not just in big ways, […]
3 Steps to Avoid Making Dangerous Decisions
What’s your reaction when you hear about a shocking moral failure from someone famous, especially someone largely trusted and respected? In today’s cancel culture, many are quick to express self-righteous satisfaction when other people are exposed and “canceled.” But at some point, we all need to learn how to stop making bad decisions. We should […]
The 3 Most Important Marriage Lessons I’ve Learned So Far
Early in my marriage, I had a habit of giving Susan feedback, but not in a helpful way. In fact, as I’ve written before, I had a critical spirit. I had to learn one of the most important marriage lessons I’ve learned: While it’s good to give your spouse constructive criticism, it’s better to give […]
3 Powerful Questions Every Leader Should Ask
Strong leaders know how to ask good questions—and there are certain questions every leader should ask. When we ask questions, we imply that the person we’re asking is important, that we value his or her opinion. We show others we respect them and that we value them. We show we’re interested in them and that we […]
